Power management for electrochromic window networks

Abstract

Various embodiments herein relate to networks of electrochromic windows. The networks may be configured in particular ways to minimize the likelihood that the windows on the network draw more power than can be provided. The network may include particular hardware components that provide additional power to windows as needed. The network may also be configured to adjust how the windows therein transition to prevent overloading the network. The techniques described herein can be used to design networks of electrochromic windows that are undersized when considering the amount of power that would be needed to simultaneously transition all the windows on the network using normal transition parameters, while still allowing simultaneous transitions to occur.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of modifying a pre-existing network of electrochromic windows, the method comprising: installing one or more additional window assemblies in the pre-existing network of window assemblies, the pre-existing network comprising: two or more window assemblies, each window assembly comprising at least one electrochromic panel; two or more window controllers, each window controller electrically connected to one of the window assemblies; and one or more power supplies collectively having a maximum power output, wherein: before installation of the one or more additional window assemblies a first amount of power used to simultaneously drive optical transitions on all of the window assemblies using a first set of drive transition parameters is collectively below the maximum power output; and after installing the one or more additional window assemblies; a second amount of power used to simultaneously drive optical transitions on all of the window assemblies using the first set of drive transition parameters collectively exceeds the maximum power output; and the network is configured to simultaneously drive optical transitions on all of the window assemblies without demanding a level of power from the one or more power supplies that exceeds the maximum power output. 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising installing one or more energy wells in electrical communication with (a) the one or more power supplies and (b) the two or more window assemblies of the pre-existing network and/or the one or more additional window assemblies. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method excludes installation of any additional power sources. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3 , wherein the pre-existing network further comprises one or more energy wells in addition to the one or more power supplies. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 before installing the one or more additional window assemblies, the network is configured to use the first set of drive transition parameters to drive optical transitions on the window assemblies; and 
 after installing the one or more additional window assemblies, the network is configured to use a modified set of drive transition parameters to drive optical transitions on the window assemblies, wherein the modified set of drive transition parameters results in a lower power usage per window assembly, per unit time, compared to the first set of drive transition parameters. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , wherein each of the first set of drive transition parameters and the modified set of drive transition parameters comprises a ramp to drive voltage rate, and wherein the ramp to drive voltage rate of the modified set of drive transition parameters has a lower magnitude than the ramp to drive voltage rate of the first set of drive transition parameters. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 5 , wherein each of the first set of drive transition parameters and the modified set of drive transition parameters comprises a drive voltage, and wherein the drive voltage of the modified set of drive transition parameters has a lower magnitude than the drive voltage of the first set of drive transition parameters. 
     
     
       8. A network comprising:
 (a) two or more window assemblies, each including:
 at least one electrochromic pane, 
 a window controller for driving optical transitions on the electrochromic pane, and 
 a supercapacitor for powering optical transitions on the electrochromic pane; and 
 
 (b) a power supply electrically connected with the window assemblies, wherein the network is configured to transfer power from the supercapacitors to the electrochromic panes when the window assemblies collectively demand a greater amount of power than can be provided by the power supply, and to transfer power from the power supply to the supercapacitors to recharge the supercapacitors when the window assemblies collectively demand a lower amount of power than can be provided by the power supply. 
 
     
     
       9. The network of  claim 8 , further comprising;
 a network controller and/or master controller communicatively coupled with the window controller of each of the two or more window assemblies; wherein 
 the network controller and/or master controller is configured to cause one or more of the window assemblies to undergo a first optical transition using a first set of transition parameters when a first condition is present, and to cause one or more of the window assemblies to undergo a second optical transition using a second set of transition parameters when a second condition is present, the first condition being different from the second condition. 
 
     
     
       10. The network of  claim 9 , wherein the first condition relates to a condition where the window assemblies collectively demand relatively more power, and wherein the second condition relates to a condition where the window assemblies collectively demand relatively less power. 
     
     
       11. The network of  claim 9 , wherein the first condition relates to a condition where the window assemblies directed to transition would collectively demand, if transitioned using the second set of transition parameters, either (i) more power than can be provided by the power supply, or (ii) more than a certain fraction of the power that can be provided by the power supply. 
     
     
       12. A network comprising:
 (a) two or more window assemblies, each comprising:
 at least one electrochromic pane, and 
 a window controller for driving optical transitions on the electrochromic pane; 
 
 (b) a power supply electrically connected with the window assemblies; and 
 (c) one or more energy wells electrically connected with the power supply and with the window assemblies, wherein the network is configured to:
 (i) transfer power from the one or more energy wells to the window assemblies when the window assemblies collectively demand a greater amount of power than can be provided by the power supply, 
 (ii) transfer power from the power supply to the one or more energy wells to recharge the one or more energy wells when the window assemblies collectively demand a lower amount of power than can be provided by the power supply, and 
 (iii) transfer power from the one or more energy wells to a power cable electrically positioned between the one or more energy wells and the power supply when a command is received directing the network to do so. 
 
 
     
     
       13. The network of  claim 12 , wherein each of the one or more energy wells is a modular format battery pack associated with two or more of (i) the window controller, (ii) a control panel, (iii) a trunk line that connects two or more of the window assemblies to the control panel or (iv) a drop cable of the network that connects the window controller to the trunk line. 
     
     
       14. The network of  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the one or more energy wells device is included in a respective window assembly. 
     
     
       15. The network of  claim 12 , wherein the energy well is integrated into the respective window assembly. 
     
     
       16. The network of  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the one or more energy wells includes at least one of a battery and a supercapacitor. 
     
     
       17. The network of  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the one or more energy wells includes a modular format battery pack. 
     
     
       18. The network of  claim 17 , wherein the modular format battery pack is configured for installation into a trunk line or drop cable. 
     
     
       19. The network of  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the one or more energy wells has an energy storage capacity sufficient to simultaneously drive an optical transition in at least two window assemblies on the network.